Nintendo fans, brace yourselves for some sad news. The iconic Japanese tech giant has officially announced that it is pulling the plug on the online services for two of its beloved gaming consoles. This means that multiplayer and other connected features will no longer be available for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.

Goodbye, 3DS and Wii U online services

The Nintendo 3DS, which enjoyed massive success, was officially discontinued by Nintendo in 2020 after a remarkable 10-year run. The Wii U, on the other hand, was discontinued in 2017. Earlier this year, the digital shop sales for both devices were permanently closed.

According to Nintendo, "In early April 2024, online play and other functionality that uses online communication will end for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software." This includes online co-operative play, internet rankings, and data distribution. The company plans to announce a specific end date and time in the future.

Nintendo expressed its gratitude to players for their long-term support and apologized for any inconvenience caused by the discontinuation of the online services. However, there is one feature that will still be available for now - Pokemon Bank will continue to maintain its online capabilities.

StreetPass stays, SpotPass goes

Fans of the StreetPass social gaming experience can breathe a sigh of relief as this feature will continue to function. StreetPass relies on nearby communication between Nintendo 3DS devices and does not require online connectivity. However, SpotPass, which requires online communication, will no longer be available.

For those worried about losing their beloved games, fear not. Nintendo has confirmed that players will still be able to download update data and redownload purchased software and downloadable content from Nintendo eShop "for the foreseeable future."

It's truly the end of an era for these iconic consoles, but Nintendo fans can continue to enjoy their gaming experiences offline.